republican was denied a chance by republicans to have a full vote to become the secretary of defense, chuck hagel. this same week, the senate pas passed by bipartisan majority of 78-22, the violence against women's act. and yet, here in the house, republicans once again, as they did last year, refused to let the american people have a vote on protecting women from domestic violence. and today, republicans in the house decided to cut the pay of the very same people that you heard ms. lowey name to you. law enforcement personnel, health and safety inspectors, embassy personnel. today, the republicans voted to cut their pay. to pay for tax cuts of the very wealthy, to keep subsidies for big oil companies going, things that republicans refuse to eliminate, those types of subsidies and tax loopholes. and so i say to you all, welcome to the new normal for the tea party republicans who control the congress. this is no longer an exception. it is the rule for republicans. 73% of house republicans voted in 2011 for the republican-inspired sequester and has mr. van hollen pointed out, speaker boehner said h